Casting machine



11.112, 1934." R D LPH' 1,962,843

CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l 9 1, wyzw W Jqne12, 1934. Q L H 1,962,843

GASTIN eeeeee NE Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES CASTING MACHINEWalter J. Rudolph, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Ludlow Typograph Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 26, 1932,Serial No. 595,393

8 Claims.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in machines forcasting slugs, or the like, used in printing operations and comprising,generally stated, a crucible, or casting-pot, forming the supply of themolten metal from which the slugs or the like are to be cast, and a moldto which the molten metal is supplied; the invention relating, as by wayof example, and more particularly, to machines of the general type 9shown in United States Letters Patent No.

1,124,293 granted to E. S. Carman, January 12,

1915, in which machine the crucible is supported to rock about ahorizontal axis and to swing about a more or less vertical axis and isassociated with means for pumping the molten metal through the outlet ofits throat portion, the machine also comprising a matrix structuresupported against upward movement and a vertically movable mold thecavity of which opens through both its upper and lower surfaces, themachine operating to lift the mold to engage the underside of the matrixstructure, thereafter swing the crucible to a position in which itsthroat portion is directly below the mold and then raise the throatportion into engagement with the bottom of the mold, the pump then beingoperated to force a charge of molten metal from the crucible into themold. Following the operation just stated the crucible swingshorizontally across the bottom of the mold and to one side thereof andthen rocks downwardly at its throat portion away from the mold, themetal at the underside of the mold is trimmed off and the mold lowers toa position in which the cast slug is ejected.

My objects, generally stated, are to provide improvements in machines ofthe general char-.

acter above referred to to the end that the amount of air required to bedisplaced by the molten -metal in the casting operation will be reducedto the minimum; that such air as is in the mold may be displaced freelyby the molten metal and thus permit of the making of a perfect cast;that the metal will flow into the mold in a flat stream as distinguishedfrom the jetting of the metal into the mold through a series of smallopenings; and that the mouthpiece, or squirt plate provided at thethroat portion of the crucible will be maintained at all timessubstantially at the same temperature as the molten metal and thus avoidfreezing of the metal in the mouthpiece during the intervals between thecasting operations; and other objects as will be manifest from thefollowing description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, with certain partssectioned, of a casting machine of the general construction, andoperating on the same principle, as that shown in said Letters Patent,the mouthpiece of which is constructed in accordance with my invention.

' Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of thestructure shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view'of the crucible of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken at the line 44 on Fig. 3 andviewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the mouthpiece.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the mouthpiece. j

Figure 7 is an end view of the mouthpiece; and

Figure 8, a broken view in vertical section of the mouthpiece showing itin operative position relative to the mold.

Referring to the particular construction of casting machine illustratedand in connection with which I have chosen to illustrate my invention, 9is the crucible, ,or casting pot, of the machine commonly heated in anysuitable way to maintain therein a supply of molten type metal andmounted in a supporting casing 10, the crucible 9 comprising a reservoirportion 11 and a throat portion 12 having a separate mouthpiece 13, thereservoir portion 11 being provided with means for forcing the metaltherefrom through the throat portion 12 and into a mold hereinafterreferred to, these means being shown as formed of a cylindrical well 14in the reservoir portion 11 opening at its lower end into the throatportion 12 and at a port 15 into the reservoir portion 11 and a' piston16 reciprocable in the well 14 and operated by mechanism comprising thelinks 17.

18 represents the bed plate of the machine shown as disposed in slantingposition and containing an opening 19 over which a set of matrices 20supported in a stick", to cast the desired line composition on the slugto be formed, is positioned and held against vertical displacement.

The mold of the machine is represented at 21 and is open top and bottomand supported to be moved vertically into and out' of the position shownin Figs. 1 and 2 wherein it fits at its upper portion against theunderside of the matrices 20 which latter form the top of the mold.

The casing 10, carrying the crucible 9, is hinged at 22 to a rotatablepivot member 23, to rock about a horizontal axis, the pivot member 23being rotatable about a more or less vertical axis, these parts havingassociated therewith mechanism as described in said Letters Patent forrocking and ing through openings 26in the mouthpiece and the downwardlyflaring portion thereof being subcommonly provided, and the'opening fromthe 7Q of the fin to the outlet portion of the mouthpiece,

wardly a few degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1.

It may be stated that'the particular construction of mechanismillustrated and above described is not of the essence of my'invention,this particular construction being shown merely to illustrate one formof machine in which the invention may be utilized; and as this machineas to its general features of construction, and principle of operation,is the same as that shown in said Letters Patent, the foregoing briefdescription of the machine and its operation will sufiice.

Referring now to the particular portion of the machine to which myinvention relates, it pertains to the structure at the outlet of thethroat portion 12 and more specifically to the construction of themouthpiece 13.

In accordance with "the preferred illustrated embodimentof my invention,the mouthpiece 13 whichis formed of heat conducting material, such asfor example steel, comprises a platelike portion 24 at which it isadapted to fit against the upper surface of the outlet of the throatportion 12 and be secured thereto as by screws 25 extendscrewing intothe wall of the throat portion.

. The mouthpiece 13 also comprises a fin portion 2'7 depending from theplate portion 24 and disposed inwardly of the surrounding edges of 'theplate portion 24, thisfin portion extending downwardly into the outletof the throat portion 12 to be in contact with the molten metal duringthe periods when the crucible is tilted down from the position shownin'Fig. 1, namely, between casting'j operations, and preferably incontact with thelmolten metal at all times. I

The'mouthpiece 13 contains a passage represented at 28 which opensthrough the bottom of the fin 2'? and through the upper surface of themouthpiece, and through which the molten metal is forced, to enter themold 21, upon actuating the piston 16.

The side walls of the passage 28, which is rela-' tively long and narrowas shown, flare in a crosswise direction downwardly from a pointapproximately midway between the upper. and lower surfaces of the plateportion 24 and the bottom of the fin portion 2'? as represented in Figs.4 and 8, the portions of the walls of the passage 28 above stantiallyparallel. 1

'As the fin in the particular construction shown is of wedge shape'toadapt it to fit into a throat portion of a crucible of a casting machineas mouthpiece tothe mold by preference is of a length substantiallyequal to the length of the mold cavity, the passage 28 upwardly flaresin a direction lengthwise thereof from the lower end as shown in Figs.1, 2 and 6. It will be understood, however, that the shape of thepassage 28 may be varied, as desired, from that shown withinthe scope ofmy invention.

The outlet of the mouthpiece and through which the metal is forced intothe mold 21 is thus in the form of an elongated slot, shown as ofsubstantially the same length as the cavity in the mold, but of a width,as represented in Fig. 4,

considerably less than the width of the mold.

cavity.

One of the purposes of the invention being to provide for the eifectiveconduction of the heat of the molten metal to the outlet of themouthpiece to the end of maintaining the latter at a temperature asclose as possible to that of the molten metal, it is preferred that thefin portion 27 be integral with the plate portion 24 of the mouthpiecethereby to afford the greater adaptability of the structure for theconduction of heat. In the particular construction shown the mouthpieceis formed of two sections 29 and 30 each comprising a part of the plateportion 24 and half of the fin portion 27, these sections rittingfiatwise together and forming a joint therebetween represented at 31which extends lengthwise of the passage 28 as shown in Fig. 5, thesections being represented as held together by rivets 32 engaging thesections of the fin 2'7 and rivets 33 engaging the sections of the plateportion 24,

it thus being understood that each section 29' and 30 formed as aone-piece structure cornprises a part of the plate portion 24 and apart.

of the fin portion 27.

As will be understood, the molten metal does not extend at all times tothe upper surface of the mouthpiece, and thus in the forcing of themolten metal through the latter to effect a cast, such air as may becontained'between the upper surface of the mouthpiece and the level ofthe molten metal in'the throat portion at the time tage of reducing thearea of moltenmetalexposed to the oxidizing effect of the atmosphere.

The fin in the particular construction shown, wherein it is provided asan integral part of the mouthpiece, thus not only serves to present apassage of relatively small cross-sectional dimensions for the moltenmetal with the advantages above noted, but serves to conduct heat fromthe molten metal to the plate portion of the mouthpiece for maintainingthis plate portion in heated condition.

The provision of the outlet of the mouthpiece in the form 'of anelongated slot as stated is of advantage as it permits of the dischargeof the molten metal into the mold in the form of a relativelythin sheetas distinguished from jetting the metal into the mold through aplurality of relatively small openings. V

t is also desirable in casting apparatus of the general character hereinreferred to that means be provided for permitting of the escape, fromthe mold cavity, during the casting opera-- Accordingly, means areprovided for thus venting the mold,

these means according to the particular illustrated embodiment of theinvention comprising two series of grooves 34 provided in the uppersurface of the mouthpiece at opposite sides of the passage 28 and out ofcommunication with the latter, the inner ends of these groovesregistering with the cavity in the mold 21 and their outer ends openingto the atmosphere as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8 whereby the air in themold is vented through a plurality of relatively small openings to theatmosphere, the portion of the mouthpiece through which the upper end ofthe passage 28 opens and in which the grooves 34 are provided, andrepresented at 35, being preferably elevated above the plane of thesurrounding portion of the mouthpiece as represented in Figs. 5-8 whichmakes for simplicity of structure as regards the opening of the outerends of the grooves 34 to the atmosphere.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, and shown it as incorporated in a particular construction ofcasting machine, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit itthereto as the construction may be variously modified and altered andincorporated in other constructions of casting machines withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A mouthpiece for the outlet portion of a crucible comprising aportion adapted to form a cover for said outlet portion andcontaining anelongated discharge slot, portions of the inner surfaces of the walls ofwhich flare laterally outwardly crosswise of the slot toward the inletportion of said slot.

2. A mouthpiece for the outlet portion of a crucible comprising aportion adapted to form a cover for said outlet portion and containingan elongated discharge slot, the inner surfaces of the portions of thewalls of said slot at the outlet portion of the slot being substantiallyparallel and the inner surfaces of the portions thereof at the inletportion of said slot flaring laterally outwardly cross-wise of the slottoward the inlet portion of the slot.

3. A mouthpiece for the outlet portion of a crucible comprising anapertured portion adapted to form a cover for said outlet portion and ahollow passage-forming member projecting from said cover at its inletside and adapted to extend into said outlet portion and having anopening the walls of which surround the apertured portion of said coverand also an opening for communication with the metal in said outletportion.

4. A mouthpiece for the outlet portion of a crucible comprising aportion adapted to form a cover for said outlet portion and containingan elongated discharge slot and a hollow passageforming memberprojecting from said cover at its inlet side and adapted to extend intosaid outlet portion and having an opening the walls of which surroundsaid slot and also an opening for communication with the metal in saidoutlet portion.

5. A mouthpiece for the outlet, throat, portion of a crucible, adaptedto extend into said throat portion and comprising flatwise opposedsections together forming an elongated opening through the mouthpiecewith the joint between said sections extending lengthwise of the openingwhereby the material of the mouthpiece extends continuously, withoutinterruption, from the inlet to the outlet of the mouthpiece.

6. A mouthpiece for the outlet portion of a crucible adapted to extendinto said outlet portion and having an elongated slot extendingtherethrough for the discharge of the molten metal, the inner surfacesof the end walls of said slot flaring outwardly to the extremity of theoutlet portion of said slot.

7. A mouthpiece for the outlet of a crucible comprising a portionadapted to form a cover for said outlet and containing a dischargeopening, and a wall on said cover portion extending around saiddischarge opening having a portion spaced laterally from an interiorwall of said outlet.

8. In a crucible having a mouthpiece in its mouth, said mouthpiecehaving a discharge opening therethrough, a wall on said mouthpiecesurrounding said discharge opening and depending into said mouth, aportion of said wall being laterally spaced from an interior wall of themouth and adapted to enter molten metal in the mouth.

WALTER J. RUDOLPH.

